#HaliCop photo now trending as internet meme
Photo started conversation about police interacting with people on human level
A simple photo of a Halifax police officer sitting on the sidewalk with a street busker that swept the internet Friday has been given extended life as an online meme.
By Friday evening, the hashtag #HaliCop was trending on Twitter with the photo of Const. Shawn Currie photoshopped into various locations and situations.
The original photo has been shared hundreds of times since being posted and prompted the discussion about police interacting with people on a human level.
"We're always seen as the enforcer," Currie told CBC's Maritime Noon. "But that [photo] is the every day. We sit in a coffee shop, we sit on a wall — wherever it is that we need to have a conversation with someone and it's comfortable."
Late Friday, Halifax Police were enjoying the fun, tweeting how impressed they were with the memes and people's photoshop skills.
The force said Currie would choose his favourite #HaliCop meme on Monday and the winner would get an autographed travel mug.
Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/amysmithcbc">@amysmithcbc</a> , could <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HaliCop?src=hash">#HaliCop</a> be your co-anchor for the evening? <a href="https://t.co/CGVn8KG7nV">pic.twitter.com/CGVn8KG7nV</a>
—@CaptSwiggyHali Potter. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HaliCop?src=hash">#HaliCop</a> <a href="https://t.co/mjdp9VsEsR">pic.twitter.com/mjdp9VsEsR</a>
—@Proi_RS<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HaliCop?src=hash">#HaliCop</a> taking the bigger chair to curl up in <a href="https://t.co/vLrs1sYGsH">pic.twitter.com/vLrs1sYGsH</a>
—@HalifaxReTalesFinal <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HaliCop?src=hash">#HaliCop</a> of the evening. <a href="https://t.co/mNNrrsAr8o">pic.twitter.com/mNNrrsAr8o</a>
—@evilpez4A little more classical take on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HaliCop?src=hash">#HaliCop</a> <a href="https://t.co/iLQ8Bgewxt">pic.twitter.com/iLQ8Bgewxt</a>
—@realfatapollook last one promise <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HaliCop?src=hash">#HaliCop</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/alanayorke">@alanayorke</a> <a href="https://t.co/rFey935efP">pic.twitter.com/rFey935efP</a>
—@poorhaus<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HaliCop?src=hash">#HaliCop</a> is casual second.. Safety first. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PeggysCove?src=hash">#PeggysCove</a> <a href="https://t.co/GnnhTnTJol">pic.twitter.com/GnnhTnTJol</a>
—@thejimpster<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HaliCop?src=hash">#HaliCop</a> <a href="https://t.co/f9I92JyZ9Y">pic.twitter.com/f9I92JyZ9Y</a>
—@WindsweptCoastTonight's forecast.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HaliCop?src=hash">#HaliCop</a> <a href="https://t.co/1gbUpTiOkU">pic.twitter.com/1gbUpTiOkU</a>
—@evilpez4Okay, Twitter. Cst. Currie will choose his favourite <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HaliCop?src=hash">#HaliCop</a> image on Monday. Winner gets an HRP travel mug signed by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HaliCop?src=hash">#HaliCop</a> himself!
—@HfxRegPolice